Bicycle handle-bar.



Patented Nov. 6, |900.

No. ML370.

' T. W. GAILLARD. Blcvcu; HANDLE BAH.

(Application led Apr. 10, 1900.)

(No Modal.)

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llnirin Starts Partnr @tripa TAUITUS WILLIAM GAILLARD, OF NEW YORK, N.Y.

BlCYCLE HANDLE-BAEL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N O.661,370, dated November 6, 1900.

Application tiled .April l0, 1900. Serial No. 12,330. lNo model.)

To @ZZ wtom, it may concern.-

Beit known that LTACITUS WILLIAM GAIL- LARD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city ot' New York, borough of Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings and State ot' New York, have invented a new andImproved Bicycle Handle-Bar, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

This invention relates to a novel manner of mounting handle-bars onbicycles, the special objects being to facilitate the easy adjustment ofthe han dle-bars to the height desired by the rider and also to soconstruct the adjacent parts as to render more secure the monntings ofthe handle-bars andthe elements immediately contiguous thereto.

This specification is the disclosure of one form of the invention, whilethe claims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification,

in which similar characters of reference indi-v cate corresponding partsin all the Views.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the invention. Fig. 2 is an endelevation, partly in section, on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. et is a detail view of thehandle-bar-plug socket. Fig. 5 is a view of the handle-bar plug, andFig. 6 is a view of the worm for actuating the handle-bars.

The frame of the machine has the usual tubular steering-head 7, in whichthe forkstem 8 is mounted to turn in the usual manner, and within theupper end of the forkstem S is fastened the tubular plug-socket 9. Thissocket has its upper end enlarged, as indicated at 9a in Figs. 1 and 4,and a nut 10 screwed upon the upper end of the socket 9 and over theupperend of the fork-stem 8, so as to clamp the fork-stem against theenlarged portion 9a of the socket 9, and thus render these parts 8 and 9rigid with each other. A lock-nut 11 may be provided for the nut 10, ifdesired. The nut is provided at its rear portion with twodownwardly-projected and parallel spring-fingers 12, which have convexinner faces, as indicated in Fig. 3. Fastened on the horizontal brace ofthe frame 7 is a clamp 14, which has an upward extension 15, theextremity of which is bifurcated to form a spring portion that iscapable of fitting be- Yole 20.

tween the lingers 12 when the fork-stem S is thrown into such positionas will hold the front wheel ofthe bicycle in a position longitudinallywith respect to the bicycle. Therefore when the fork-stem is in thisposition the engagement of the parts l2 and 15 will tend to hold thefork-stein steady and will prevent the fork-stem from moving except uponthe application of a positive pressure thereto. It will be seen,however, that by applying to the fork-stem a turning force suiiicient toovercome the effect ofthe spring upper end of the extension 15 thefingers 12 may be disengaged from such extension.

' Fitted in the socket 9 is a plug 16, which carries the handle-bars.This plug is provided with a spring-catch 17, which is capable ofextending through a slot 9b in the socket 9 and a corresponding slot 8in the fork-stem S, so as to engage with a stud 18 on the inner finger12. This holds the plug 1G removably in place, and, if desired, the plugmay be drawn out of the socket 9, thus facilitating the removal of thehandle-bars from the machine, which is an advantageous arrangement,since it enables the rider to carry the handlebars with him when heleaves the machine, and thus avoid the possibility of any one using themachine in his absence. The upper end of the plug 16 has two ring-likeextensions 19, surmounted at their upper ends by a thimetween thering-like extensions 19 of the plug 16 are mounted the inner ends of thehandle-bars 21, such inner ends being in the form of toothed segments,with which meshes a worm 22. This worm 22 has its lower end split andthe parts sprung outward toform spring-lingers23. (See Fig. 6.) Thesefingers are adapted to [it friction-tight in a cavity 24, lformed in theupper portion of the plug 16, so that the worm 22 is heldAfrictiontight. By turning the worm the handle-bars 21 may be adjustedas desired. The worm extends loosely through the thimble 20 and has acollar or enlargement 25 near its upper end, which is engaged in thethimble. On the upper extremity of the worm a thumbcap 26 is fastened,such cap being extended downward and loosely over the thimble 20. .3yturning this cap the worm may be turned to adjust the handle-bars. Inthis connection it will be observed that no tool is required for thispurpose. It Will thus be seen that I provide means for securely mountingthe handle-bars and for permitting their adjustrnent. The handle-barsmay be readily adjusted even while the rider is on the machine, and theymay also be taken completely off the machine by a slight exertion, suchbeing sufficient to disengage the catch 17 from the lug 18. The fingers12 and extension 15 of the clamp 14 Will be found advantageous, in thatthey hold the front Wheel ot the bicycle in straight-ahead position andenable the rider to use the machine in riding straight ahead Withoutoperating the handle bars. This construction will also be of advantageto persons learning to ride, as will be apparent to persons skilled inthe art; also, when the handle-bars are removed from the machine theparts 12 and 15 will still act to hold the front Wheel steady.

Having -thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A velocipede, having a plug carrying thehandle-bars, a member provided with a socket on the velocipede, in whichsocket the plug is fitted, a nut serving to hold the socket member inplace and having an extended portion or finger, and a catch carried bythe plug and engaging the said extended portion or finger removably tosecure the plug in the socket.

2. In a velocipede, the combination of a Worm With a split portionforming spring-iingers, the handle-bar stem on which said Worm issupported, and held friction-tight by said spring-lingers, handle-barshaving toothed portions engaged With the Worm, and means for pivotallymounting the handle-bars on the handle-bar stem.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

TACITUS WILLIAM GAILLARD.

Witnesses:

TACITUs GAILLARD, ROBERT LEGHORN, Jr.

